For the EXCLUSIVE OR logic gate to output a true value, what must be true about the inputs?

The EXCLUSIVE OR (XOR) logic gate is designed to output a true value when the inputs differ from one another. Specifically, for an XOR gate, the result is true (or "1") only when one input is true and the other is false. This means that one input must be true (1) and the other must be false (0) for the output to hold the value true.

This unique feature of the XOR gate is what distinguishes it from a standard OR gate, which would output true even if both inputs are true. Thus, the essence of the XOR function is that it enforces a condition where the inputs cannot be the same; they must be different in order to produce a true output.

This requirement for differing inputs is the fundamental principle that makes the exclusive aspect of the XOR gate significant in various digital circuits and applications, especially in scenarios involving binary operations and comparisons.